The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $12 million in new funding for eight projects to advance predictive modeling capabilities for solar generation. Four projects are aimed at making significant advances in predicting solar generation. Another project at the University of Arizona will build a testing framework to allow industry and academia to evaluate and compare the performance of advanced models according to a transparent set of rules and metrics. Finally, three projects will study the integration of advanced forecasting technologies with grid planning and operations systems in partnership with the California Independent System Operator, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. This research will validate whether or not these technologies can be efficiently integrated into energy management systems and enhance grid operation efficiency, while working to identify any future research needs.

Awardees are the University of Arizona, the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the University of California San Diego, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (two projects), the Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. and the Johns Hopkins University. According to the DOE, the total investment will spur an additional $2.6 million of private sector funding through cost share requirements, yielding a total public and private investment of over $14.6 million.